Spectrum - Volume 18 Issue 14 November 30, 1995 - NRV Strong Supporter of CVC

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

NRV Strong Supporter of CVC

By Kerry Dodson, communications manager, United Way of Montgomery, Radford, and Floyd

Spectrum Volume 18 Issue 14 - November 30, 1995

As the holiday season fast approaches, we are often called to help our neighbors in need. However, many of our neighbors here in the New River Valley have needs that last well beyond the holiday season, and there are more than 60 local organizations who receive designations through the Combined Virginia Campaign (CVC) helping to meet those critical needs year-round.

Virginia Tech employees can be proud they have contributed more than $600,000 to charities through the Combined Virginia Campaign (CVC) over the past several years. In fact, when compared with similar-size communities across the country, New River Valley state employees have consistently been in the 75th percentile in average giving and per-capita giving.

In 1993, state employees in our area contributed $248,077- second only to Richmond in Combined Virginia Campaign (CVC) regions. In 1994 New River Valley state employees raised a record $258,189, but fell behind Richmond, Charlottesville, and Tidewater in total dollars raised for that year.

"We can be proud that our area has a strong tradition of helping people in need," said T.O. Williams III, New River Region CVC volunteer chairman. "No other community in the state depends so heavily on the generosity of state employees through the Combined Virginia Campaign. This year, alone, the CVC goal makes up 28 percent of the $900,000 community-wide goal."

For many local non-profit organizations, the CVC is an opportunity to gain community contributions with minimum time and effort so that agencies spend less time raising funds and more time helping the people who really need help.

"Less than one-third of our total budget comes from state and federal grants, which means we have to depend on the generosity of our local community for the rest," said Rose Teixeira, executive director for the Montgomery County Community Shelter. "Being a CVC participant and a United Way partner agency allows us to focus our attention on helping homeless families. We know we can count on the funds raised through the CVC and United Way to cover another third of our budget."

Local volunteers through the United Way of Montgomery, Radford and Floyd manage the CVC in the New River Region. Since the Combined Virginia Campaign is managed and conducted locally, all the money raised through the CVC stays here in the New River Valley and is distributed to the organizations designated by the donors. "Beyond setting the organizational guidelines, the state bureaucracy has nothing else to do with the Combined Virginia Campaign," said Karen Cronin, volunteer CVC chair for Virginia Tech. "The CVC is managed and conducted by volunteers. When we, as the New River Region, do well it is to the credit of generous state employees here in the New River Valley."

Of the total amount raised by state employees in the New River Region last year, donors chose to designate 70 percent to stay in the New River Valley to help more than 60 local charities; 30 percent was designated to other parts of the state, country, and world.

There are 8,400 state employees representing 31 state agencies in the New River Region who have the opportunity to give through the Combined Virginia Campaign. With only a few weeks left, Virginia Tech employees have contributed $130,229--about 62 percent of Virginia Tech's campaign goal. Final reports are expected by December 15. Payroll deductions begin January 1, and are tax deductible.

If you have any questions or comments about the Combined Virginia Campaign contact Cronin at 1-8592 or the United Way of Montgomery, Radford and Floyd at 381-2066.